PHARM 3103 - Drug Action and Therapeutics

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2018

The course will provide students with an understanding of how drugs are used as therapeutics. Students will gain an understanding of drug-receptor interactions. Particular emphasis will be given to the key factors that influence and govern the effects of drugs within the body, ranging from molecular determinants to physiological factors that control disposition of drugs within the body. Selected systems pharmacology examples will be given to illustrate contemporary approaches to treatment of disease. The practical component of this course will demonstrate key issues from the theoretical part of the course as well as providing laboratory and experimental proficiency for students, ensuring they gain an appreciation for studying drug actions at different levels of biological organisation, ranging from simple in vitro systems (e.g. organ baths) to whole animals.

The course will provide students with an understanding of how drugs are used as therapeutics. Students will gain an understanding of drug-receptor interactions. Particular emphasis will be given to the key factors that influence and govern the effects of drugs within the body, ranging from molecular determinants to physiological factors that control disposition of drugs within the body. Selected systems pharmacology examples will be given to illustrate contemporary approaches to treatment of disease. The practical component of this course will demonstrate key issues from the theoretical part of the course as well as providing laboratory and experimental proficiency for students, ensuring they gain an appreciation for studying drug actions at different levels of biological organisation, ranging from simple in vitro systems (e.g. organ baths) to whole animals.

Course Timetable

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Recognise the fundamental principles of drug actions at their target sites (eg. receptors, enzymes etc) 2. Describe the different types of pharmacodynamic interactions of drugs with receptors and apply quantitative methods to analyse such interactions 3. Demonstrate knowledge of the actions of specific drug classes at selected organ systems and physiological pathways at a molecular and cellular level 4. Explain the functioning of the autonomic nervous system at a pharmacological, anatomical and physiological level, with an integrated approach to its role in physiological homeostasis 5. Compare the functional roles of selected central nervous system transmitters and be able to list clinically important drugs acting at these pharmacological systems 6. Choose a relevant experimental system to test experimental hypotheses (e.g. in vitro or in vivo; animal species etc) 7. Design experiments which are properly controlled and which use appropriate statistical methods of data analysis 8. Work co-operatively in a small group setting to conduct experiments, generate, analyse and interpret experimental data 9. Consider ethical issues when designing experiments using humans or animals 10. Consider the importance of method validation, and the recognition of experimental errors

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute

Course Learning Outcome(s)

Deep discipline knowledge

informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies

acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1

accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)

1-10

Critical thinking and problem solving

steeped in research methods and rigor

based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development

demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment

3-10

Teamwork and communication skills

developed from, with, and via the SGDE

honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies

encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning

7.8

Career and leadership readiness

technology savvy

professional and, where relevant, fully accredited

forward thinking and well informed

tested and validated by work based experiences

7.8

Intercultural and ethical competency

adept at operating in other cultures

comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts

Able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes

demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges

9

Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal

open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers

able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate

Required Resources

“Rang and Dale's pharmacology” by Rang, Dale, Ritter, Flower and Henderson (Elsevier, 2015, 8th Edition). This book is anexcellent introduction to all aspects of pharmacology and lecturers will assign relevant chapters for each lecture.

Australian Medicines Handbook (online via BSL)

Recommended Resources

Students will be able to open access a variety of third party online and libraryresources. Links to journal articles and reading lists disseminated via MyUni.

Online Learning

The primary means of communication outside of the formal contact hours will be via MyUni (or Canvas). Announcements supportedby email will be used as the main method of communicating with the student cohort.

Lecture notes will be provided in either pdf or PowerPoint format, relevant lab and tutorial handoutsand other supporting materials as required. Material will be sequentially released in line with the teaching and learning activities in each week.

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course is comprised of a combination of didactic lectures, interactive tutorial sessions and prescribed laboratory group-based practical sessions. Problem based tutorials are designed to support the major learning objectives set in the lecture content and require student interaction. Group-based laboratory practicals are designed to reinforce and extend on learning provided in the themed lecture content as well as providing an understanding and proficiency in research methods and experimental design, data analysis and write-up.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

You should spend at minimum 16 hours a week on study activities for this course. This will include an average of 8 hours contact time (lecture/practical/tutorial) and 8 hours revision/preparation/study.

Learning Activities Summary

Tutorial classes are based on the themed lecture content above and are usually set to follow the completion of lecture delivery within the prescribed theme.

Additional tutorial content is delivered in the areas of drug calculations and dilutions and biostatistics, which are topics that reinforce aspects of teaching in the practical classes.

Other people have to handle things you may have touched. Don't suck pencils or anything similar in the laboratory.No food or drink should be consumed or brought into the laboratory.No smoking should take place in the laboratory.

All solutions should be treated with care. Any material, dry or in solution, spilt on to the bench, the floor, or the hands should be cleaned up at once with disposable paper towels. Spills should be cleaned up immediately and hands washed after any inadvertent contact.

No drug or syringe must leave the department for any reason.All sharps (hypodermic needles, scalpel blades) must be placed in the yellow sharps disposal bins placed around the laboratory.Solid waste should be placed in the appropriate bins, not in the sink.

Studentsshould pay particular attention to the care of animals.

The ethical aspects of using animals and techniques for handling and injecting animals will be demonstrated.

Any equipment failure or other faults should be reported to a demonstrator or to a technician.

At the conclusion of the experiment, it is the student’s responsibility to tidy the work space and to ensure that tubes, tips etc are disposed of in the appropriate bins provided.

No unauthorised persons are to visit students while working in the laboratory.

Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.

Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.

Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task

Assessment Type

Weighting

Learning Outcome(s) being addressed

Final Exam

Summative

50%

1-4

Assessment Test I

Summative

10%

3

Assessment Test II

Summative

10%

1-2

Practicals

Summative and formative

30%

5

Assessment Related Requirements

Not Applicable

Assessment Detail

Online quizzes: Students will access 2 online MCQ formatted quizzeswhich will be at weeks 6 and 10 to provide students with a reflective formativeappraisal of their understanding of key concepts from lectures. 0%

Test 2: Written short answer-basedtest on all practical content, undertaken in week 12. 10% weighting

Practicals: Students work in small groups to investigate key experiments which illustrate and re-enforce theoretical concepts. Written reports produced and assessed. 30% weighting.

Examination: A 2 hour exam to be held at the end of semester. 50% weighting.

Submission

All written submissions (eg. practical reports) must be accompanied by a signed cover sheet. Proforma cover sheets will be available for download off MyUni.

Late submissions of any student work are not acceptable. Coursework received after the deadline will be penalised as follows:10% of total available points will be penalised per day (24 hour period or fraction thereof). An automatic zero mark will be applied after 7 days

If you miss an assessment test e.g. from illness, you are required to present medical or compassionate certification to be eligible to sit a supplementary test. Such certificates need to be provided to The Course Coordinator directly within one week of the test date.

The date and time of the supp. test is then determined by the Course Coordinator and is not negotiable. Students will be informed of the supp. test date by email.

Turn-around times for marking practial reports are 1 week from date of submission. Marked assessment tests are normally returned within 1-2 weeks from date of sitting.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)

Grade

Mark

Description

FNS

Fail No Submission

F

1-49

Fail

P

50-64

Pass

C

65-74

Credit

D

75-84

Distinction

HD

85-100

High Distinction

CN

Continuing

NFE

No Formal Examination

RP

Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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